This paper describes a phenomenological, stationary and dynamic model of a multiple effect evaporator for simulation and control purposes. The model includes empirical knowledge about thermophysical properties that must be characterized into a thermodynamic equilibrium. The properties selected evolved from an economical optimisation because of their influence on the temperature and concentration variations parameters. The developed model consists of differential and algebraic equations that are validated using a parameter sensitivities method that uses data collected in the industrial plant. The simulation results show a qualitatively acceptable behaviour. The values of the estimated parameters are physically appropriate for the process. The study of parametric sensitivity and more generally of the model sensitivity, with respect to variables has been judicious for the parameter estimation as for the choice of suitable data for model validation. This study shows also that the most important parameters of the process are the global heat transfer coefficient and the latent heat of vaporization. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.